2. weekend today February 19 - 20, 2011 t2
t2 weekend today February 19 - 20, 2011 t3
Hugh Memories are made of this
and me
How I met Mr Right —
Or why I’ll always have a
soft spot for Sydney
Christopher Toh
christophertoh@mediacorp.com.sg
breakfast. Now, that’s a parade.
We also did the Sydney Harbour
Bridge Climb that trip, and our guide
decided to turn comedian on us. “Did
you know that the Sydney Harbour
that’s Mr Wolverine to you Bridge has two times the number
I AM completely guilty of a travel of rivets on the Eiffel Tower?” she
May Seah crime: When visiting a place I’ve asked. “So it’s twice as riveting!”
may@mediacorp.com.sg been to before, I always end up Ba-da-bum!
comparing the experience to my And the food! So many
I HAVE to say, I have a pretty cool job. son. (Mel Gibson, previous trip instead of focusing on memories, so many calories:
As a features writer, I encounter who?) a new adventure. Sure, it might annoy Fish and chips in Manly, lobster
interesting and/or famous people every I’m not usually my vacation companions but, hey, you carpaccio (so fresh I swear I saw
day. Sometimes, I even get to jet set a groupie. But ask any travel your way and I’ll travel mine. its legs kick) in an Italian restaurant
across the world to meet them. As such, woman — or, for that And so it happened when somewhere along Liverpool Street,
my Facebook photos are full of trophy matter, any man — and I returned to Sydney last dinner theatre on a boat where a
moments: Lounging brazenly in Sheldon’s they’ll likely tell you that Hugh November. My wife and I were tenor would burst into something
spot on the set of The Big Bang Theory, Jackman is in a class of his own. Yen Yok recounting our first trip to from Turandot as we sipped our cream
hanging with the Deadliest Catch guys in Never mind that he sings, the Australian city together of mushroom soup.
Seattle, and perching on the shoulders of a dances, acts and produces. Never more than a decade ago. Which is why I was more than a
couple of choice Chippendale dancers. mind that he is Wolverine. Never mind Back then, we weren’t little bummed out when, while in Sydney
The photo that has received the most that he has a list of awards longer than married yet, we stayed with the family one time, my aunt
comments by far — many in the vein of my arm. His real appeal can be explained out way too late, and suggested that we look for Chinese
“How do I apply for your job?” — is the in terms of evolutionary biology: Hugh we did impulsive things food. Mind you, we’d just landed not
one of me meeting Mr Right. Jackman is an old-school manly-man. like deciding to fly to an hour ago. (She also insisted on
It was everything I thought it would Women want to date him because Melbourne — when we wearing heels when visiting the
be. But don’t tell Hugh Jackman’s wife — I he’s tall, handsome and has proven were supposed to get on Blue Mountains.)
don’t think she knows yet. himself desirable by being in a committed a plane back to Singapore. Speaking of the
Mind you, we didn’t meet marriage to the same woman for 15 years nice. He had no entourage or assistant, no Now, on this particular Blue Mountains, my
serendipitously at a lonely bus stop when and raising two children. Men want to be forced smarmy-charm, and no pretensions. trip, we were travelling son came up to me
we were both holding the same Gabriel him because he’s tall, handsome and has He was the biggest star I’d ever met, but with two kids and a conga the other day and spouted
Garcia Marquez book. The fact of the biceps the size of melons. SHE SAID by far the most personable. line of luggage. It was a little less this gem: “Did you know
matter was that I had to travel all the way And speaking of melons, Hugh was My interview session with him was impulsive and a tad more stick-to- the Blue Mountains are
to Sydney, Australia, in search of Hugh. in fine form that day in Sydney. To play the very last one in a long day of meet- the-itinerary-we-laboured-over- called the Blue Mountains
Not that he was aware of it.Yes, it was a Wolverine, a strict regimen of 4am gym the-fans-and-print-online-radio-television- to-suit-their-tastes. because from afar they
bit of a one-sided romance but still rather workouts, cold showers and egg white press sessions. And Hugh answered all the Still, I was wondering if look blue?”
epic, I’d like to think. shakes had made his shoulders and arms
On top of questions affably, making little jokes while Sydney would strike a chord No, I didn’t, I said,
Back in April 2009, the movie even more massive than usual. He made all that his eyes twinkled into mine. with the boys as it had with where did you learn
X-Men Origins:Wolverine was about to be his grand entrance hanging out of a much-ness, Which brings us back to that Facebook me. It’s the Australian city that?
released, and a publicity event was held on chopper and waving to the screaming fans photo. It features the (one-time, but I’ve been to the most, seeing “Uncle Maurice
Cockatoo Island, in the middle of Sydney below, then landed at the top of the quarry Hugh was who’s counting?) Sexiest Man Alive smiling as most of the family on my told me when we were going
Harbour, because many of the movie’s and ziplined down to solid ground — all also really, charmingly into the camera — and me, mother’s side — and my son’s there,” he replied.
scenes had been filmed there, as well as in the while clad in a polo shirt that looked grinning, a whole head-and-a-half shorter. godparents (and really good I know it doesn’t sound
other Sydney locales. like it was about to bust its seams (in a really nice. And that is how there came to be friends) — live there, so it’s only like much, but the fact that my
The island, accessible by boat, has good way), sexy black leather, matching a moment, immortalised in digital pixels natural that some of my most son remembered some fact like
an old quarry and a number of historic stubble, and his trademark easy smile. for all posterity, of me and Hugh Jackman memorable, erm, memories, are set that from two months ago is a
buildings including a former shipyard and Whatever it is in the Sydney water with our arms around each other, on a in Sydney. bit of an event. And it made me
a prison, which is now a UNESCO World that produces such specimens — it beautiful island in Sydney Harbour. My first trip there presented me smile. (I Googled — he’s right. It’s
Heritage site. The venue was also chosen should be bottled and declared a national It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got with the best gift a boy could wish for: got something to do with incoming
because the movie’s star, 43-year-old treasure. to do it. His first encounter with full frontal ultraviolet radiation being scattered by
Jackman himself, was born and raised in Here’s the kicker: On top of all that nudity of the female form. And it wasn’t particles within the atmosphere creating
Sydney, and is now arguably its favourite much-ness, Hugh was also really, really The writer is a features reporter at Today. in some stuffy museum either. We were Faizal
a blue-greyish colour to distant objects.)
at the beach (I can’t recall which) and my And even this time we didn’t stay
cousin had told me there was something out way too late, or get hammered with
cool to be found at the other end. it turns into the happiest place on earth strange Irish men, or see naked women
Curious, I followed him and — voila! — after Disneyland. for the first time (it is an event that,
we were in the nudist section, where my My wife and I were there to cover unfortunately, cannot be recreated), or
eyes feasted on a host of specimens of HE SAID the event and somehow we ended up even spend as much time as we would
the human body as nature had intended. standing with an extremely friendly Irish have liked — we were at the Blue
Naturally, the first thing I did was contingent, who invited us to share in Mountains for a total of 15 minutes.
run and tell my mother (“Mum, mum, their picnic — of beer and Guinness. As my wife said, we did meet up with
mum — guess what I saw!”), who in Not wanting to offend them amazing people whom we love, and
turn told my uncle, who in turn beat my
The food! by refusing their offer, we imbibed. who love our boys. Everyone enjoyed
cousin, who in turn beat me. So many Everything after that is a bit of a blur, themselves — and that’s trumps being
Many years later, I found myself memories, really. I remember fireworks. I remember beaten up by my cousin any time.
at my first Sydney Mardi Gras parade. everybody hugging each other. I
Oxford Street is known for its retail so many remember Cher’s voice blasting through The writer is the deputy features
scene and bars, but come every February, calories. the speakers. And then it was time for editor at Today.
3. weekend Today February 19 - 20, 2011 T4 weekend Today February 19 - 20, 2011 T5
Tetsuya talking I’ve met incredible people who helped me
to get to where I am today. In some ways,
Waku Ghin is similar to how it was when
I first started Tetsuya’s in 1989 when it
only sat about 36 people.
is always a serious issue. I’d like more
staff and, more importantly, people with
passion. Skills can be taught.
“Once things are more settled here,
I’d like to send some staff in Waku Ghin
to the culture. It will be good for them to
experience it.
“I’m not looking to expand. I just
want to focus on Waku Ghin so that it
can operate smoothly even if my eyes are
“Hospitality is an important and
worthy profession. I want people to
be proud to work in this industry.
The restaurant business is a people’s
business — you have to enjoy being
Tetsuya’s made him a accuracy of that old truism:You can tell a “Agreeing to come to Singapore to Tetsuya’s to work, and some of the closed. I could consider (expanding) if my with people. I don’t think it’s right for
culinary rock star in lot about a chef by the food he cooks. wasn’t a difficult decision. Until Marina Sydney guys here. It’ll be like an exchange team wants to. Right now, I want my staff you if you don’t.
Sydney.The opening of It was my second meeting with the Bay Sands came along, I never planned programme. There’s so much which can be to learn and grow. I keep in touch with all “It’s a special business — it’s hard
Waku Ghin at MBS brought Sydney-based Tetsuya. Perhaps it’s the to open a second restaurant. I couldn’t learnt from each other — from ways of my ex-staff. I make it a point to visit them. to explain. I know I’ll be doing this until
him to our shores. Now, innate Japanese manners that make him believe how lucky I was to be asked. cooking to running the actual restaurants They’re like my children. I die.”
in his own words, chef such a polite enigma to interview. This is a And I feel I’m luckier than some of the
Tetsuya Wakuda ponders his man who’s never been less than thoughtful other chefs who’re here as I’d already
journey here and forward in his answers; whose flashes of humour been visiting Singapore very frequently.
are as fleeting as they are sincerely It’s like my second home — I love the
amusing to him. For one, who knew that food here and I’ve many friends here
the reserved chef has famous “boyfriends” like Justin (Quek) and Ignatius (Chan) of
He Said
in Singapore? Iggy’s. They’re my so-called ‘boyfriends’, as
Even when the topic turned tricky my staff like to joke, because I spend so
SereNe LiM when we addressed the unthinkable fact much time with them.
serenelim@mediacorp.com.sg
that Tetsuya’s in Sydney recently lost one “There are many differences I went to
of its much-vaunted three Chef’s Hats between Tetsuya’s and Waku Ghin; Australia
SEVEN of the biggest names in the — the top honours — in The Sydney adjustments have had to be made. There
culinary world gathered in Marina Bay Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2011, are 130 seats there compared to 25 in 1982
Sands to present their restaurants he remained preternaturally affable about here. We use different ingredients and it’s and arrived
together on a united front on Wednesday. the whole thing. a totally different way of cooking. There
Some revelled in swagger and thigh- Yup, when the world’s on a first-name- isn’t much local produce here, but you in Sydney
slapping quips. (Mario Batali, here’s basis with you, you can afford to lose your can import almost everything compared with no
looking at you). Others took pains to hat but not your cool. to how it’s done in Sydney, where there’s
express themselves. And then there was plenty of local produce and you can’t
language,
Tetsuya Wakuda: Quietly earnest; exacting Part 1:The start of Waku Ghin import much. no skills
yet elegant; cosmopolitan with deeply “I went to Australia in 1982 and arrived in “The distribution network here is also and only
traditional soul. Sydney with no language, no skills and only very efficient — it’s faster to get produce
And that’s when you realise the A$3,000 (S$3,840 today) in my pockets. to Singapore than to Sydney even though A$3,000 in
they may be sent from South Australia.” my pockets.
Part ii:The present situation I’ve met
“It’s been six months since Waku Ghin incredible
Chef Tetsuya Wakuda
opened. I’m very grateful for how things people who
have turned out so far. I didn’t expect the
response would be so good. I’d (initially) helped me
thought that I’d only get 10 people eating to get to
at my restaurant. The success makes me
more nervous. I have to keep up — I don’t where I am
want to disappoint guests. But it’s good today.
pressure. I can’t complain.
“It hasn’t been more difficult on me
Tetsuya
now that I have Waku Ghin. Tetsuya’s in Wakuda
Sydney has been around for 22 years. I
have staff working for me since day one. I
have 70 full-time staff. I think if they can’t
function without me, it means something
is very wrong. I speak to my staff at
Tetsuya’s every day, too.
“For those who say my attention
is divided — it’s not true. Tetsuya’s has
been awarded three Hats in The Sydney
Morning Herald Good Food Guide since
Marinated Botan Shrimp 1992. Losing a Hat from three to two this
with Sea Urchin and Caviar year doesn’t bother me. To be honest,
two or three Hats, I’m not worried
— I don’t care. Such things are very
subjective. You go to the restaurant and
ask the guests about the food instead.
You try reserving to see if you can get a
table easily.
“Our team is very strong and very
professional. I’m not going to change the
way I do things just because of this.”
Part iii: Looking to the future
“There are many things I’d like to improve
in Waku Ghin — cooking methods, better
Saute Bamboo Clam with Garlic Cream ingredients and staff training. Staffing Waku Ghin
4. weekend Today February 19 - 20, 2011 T6 weekend Today February 19 - 20, 2011 T7
Sydney in Singapore
casually dubbed the mosaic of top of Ion Orchard opened first restaurant, opening in 1999.
modern Australian cooking. “This in partnership with Japanese He now also owns and operates
is my food, 30-odd years in the restaurant group PJ Partners, just the Glass Brasserie at the Hilton
making,” he said. in time for Christmas last year. Sydney and Palace by Luke Mangan
Mangan, arguably Australia’s The minimalist 6,000-sq-ft in South Melbourne.
A taste of the city’s feted IN THE eternal rivalry between two great in Melbourne is still burning hot like an most celebrated chef, is the most space set against the backdrop of How’s that for a close
cuisine right here at home Australian cities over, well, just about irresistibly warm fire on a cold winter night. recent addition to the influx of the city’s prized skyline celebrates encounter of the culinary kind?
everything, it seems we might just have a But Sydney has certainly caught up fast, like Australian top toques to make the chef’s adaptation of the “Mod Not to mention another fine
Don Mendoza winner.When it comes to dining out, at least. a bush fire in the height of summer. their mark here in Singapore. Oz” dining concept. example of why there’s much to
donm@mediacorp.com.sg Yes, the undeniable allure of dining In fact, out of a total of 503 restaurants His Salt Grill & Sky Bar at the Salt, Sydney was Mangan’s love about Sydney.
Chef Webster (left) reopened his previously defunct Michelin-
starred Osia restaurant in London, in Resorts World Sentosa.
Chef Mangan (right), one of Australia’s most famous chefs, opened
around Australia that were awarded with Salt Grill & Sky Bar in partnership with PJ Partners, last December.
Australian Good Food And Travel Guide’s
(AGFG) coveted Chefs Hats Awards this
year, Sydney had 77 awarded restaurants
over Melbourne’s 72.
Its success is due to a combination
of world-class outposts like Japanese
contemporary dining Nobu, plus a long
YUM list of feted local establishments, including
FACTOR Neil Perry’s Rockpool restaurant;Vue de
Monde by Shannon Bennett, AGFG’s 2007
Chef Of The Year; and, of course, 22-year-
old Tetsuya’s from Chef Tetsuya Wakuda.
Out of a Sydney also has two of the highest
total of 503 achievers in the judges’ eyes: Chef Tetsuya
and Quay Restaurant’s Peter Gilmore.
restaurants We may be about 3,410 nautical
around miles away from the state capital of
New South Wales, but we can still have
Australia mouth-watering Sydney fare, right here in
that were perennially sunny (okay, sometimes rainy)
Singapore. And, sometimes, high above it.
awarded Lending his own Down Under
the coveted perspective to dining 35,000 feet in the air
Chefs Hats is renowned Sydney-based chef Matthew
Moran, joining London’s Gordon Ramsay,
Award Singapore’s Sam Leong and New York’s Alfred
this year, Portale on Singapore Airlines’ International
Culinary Panel as a consulting chef.
a total of The youngest chef to receive a presti-
77 Sydney gious Chef’s Hat, Chef Moran went on to
restaurants co-own the award-winning Morans Restau-
rant And Cafe and the famed Aria in Sydney.
made the Down on the ground, Waku Ghin at
list. Marina Bay Sands, Chef Tetsuya’s first es-
tablishment outside of Australia, heads the
local Sydney connection with only 25 seats
up for grabs — and a 3,000-bottle wine list
to peruse once you snag a reservation.
Two Melbourne chefs who have made
their mark in Sydney and are now satiating
Singapore appetites include Scott Webster
and Luke Mangan.
Chef Webster chose Singapore as the
location for the rebirth of his previously
defunct Michelin-starred Osia restaurant
in London. The cuisine at Osia at Resorts
World Sentosa, Webster told Today, isn’t
just another piece in what has been
5. weekend Today February 19 - 20, 2011 T8 weekend Today February 19 - 20, 2011 T9
Blog #1: XssAt
Sydney’S
Founder: XIAOHAN SHEN, 25
describe sydney’s fashion scene. and beach lifestyles and we have to be dress in lots of layers.
Eclectic, laidback and a little bohemian. versatile enough for both. The climate
also plays a big part in the way we dress Who are your favourite
What do you think sets sydney — the hot summers require us to dress sydney-based designers?
got styLe
style apart? sparingly, while the warm winter days Josh Goot, Sara Phillips and
Sydney has a great combination of urban and cold winter nights require us to Dion Lee. Xiaohan Shen
gwen
Stefani’s kids
have got
nothing on this
little rock ’n’
m the ground up rolla.
In this Aussie city, trends start fro
Blog #2: sydney
street styLe
Founder: LUkE RAILINGS, 16
Lynette Koh
lynettek@mediacorp.com.sg
What are your thoughts
on sydney’s street style?
is clearly on the rise.
FASHION Down Under ely associated
Sydney has such a diverse range of
Once practically exclusiv styles and fashions. This allows
h as Quiksilver and
with surfwear brands suc everyone to draw inspiration from
n has come into its
Billabong, Australian fashio — and Sydney each other. I feel like Sydney fashion
own over the past few years
lbourne, as one is just growing and growing, and I feel
has emerged, alongside Me ots. How do we — and hope — that in the not-
tsp
of the country’s major ho too-distant future, the Sydney fash-
know? ever-growing ion scene will reach the level of the
It’s not just because of the
slew of Sydney-base d designers and labels current fashion capitals of the world:
es among lovers of New York, Milan and Paris.
becoming covetable nam
(including Singapore
fashion around the world
0). Neither is it just
— see story on page T1 What are your favourite
to several key Aussie
because Sydney is home sydney labels?
biannual fashion
fashion events, including I like Sass & Bide and Romance Was
gust each year.
weeks, held in May and Au eastern Born, but my favorite Sydney design-
For proof that the south-
er is Josh Goot. I love all his collec-
me a hotbed of style,
Australian city has beco
k much further than tions — the tailoring and silhouettes
one does not need to loo are just in a league of their own.
its streets. mian —
Edgy, sophisticated, bohe
whatever fashion tribes they have
ny Sydneysiders
pledged allegiance to, ma
parts chic,
boast a look that’s equal luke railings
cool, and ver y comfy. le to be
With such a surplus of sty
Sydney, it’s no
had on the sidewalks of
street-style
surprise that a number of city in
blogs have popped up in the
recent years.
Describing what makes
out, Luke
Sydneysider style stand
Railings, the founder of Sydney Street
t the styles
Style, said: “I would say tha
of Sydney de pend on what area of
city centre,
the city you go to. In the
the styles are very mo dern and chic A bold scarf
to reflect
— they constantly change
totally transforms
a white tee and
runway trends. k blue jeans —
“But in the more laidbac parakeet optional.
suburbs like Glebe, Ne wtown, Surry
style is
Hills and Paddington, the
more altern ative. That said, all areas
erse range
in Sydney have such a div Black shirt
of styles, which is wh at makes Brown is with sheer sleeves,
anything but cut-off shorts with
Sydney so unique.” fashion
Paired
boring when applique — interesting
Here, four Sydney-based with a white
paired with details make all the
the ir
bloggers share some of
shirt accesso- difference.
complemen-
could rised with a choker,
fav ourite images. Maybe we even ripped jeans
tary shades
take a couple of notes. can look put-
of rusts and
beiges.
together. Photos: Xssat ey Street Sty
le
>> Continued on t10
Photos: Sydn
6. weekend Today February 19 - 20, 2011 T 12
they make Australian aesthetic, which she describes
as “classic yet fashionable, and influenced
the outfit
by a relaxed attitude to luxury”.
Pick up any Oroton bag and it is
obvious what she means. There is the
new Sydney-based luxury buttery-soft leather from which the
accessory brand oroton brand’s bags are made, typically in pair-
Emeril satchel, $785
arrives on our shores with-anything colours such as tan, black
and off-white. Then, there are their
Lynette Koh stylishly slouchy forms, which are clearly
lynettek@mediacorp.com.sg inspired by classic shapes such as the
satchel and the hobo, but feature just
WITH playful, well-made designs which enough embellishment — a burnished
feature just a touch of quirkiness, Aussie Emeril silk clasp here, a panel of shimmery metal
scarf, $165
accessory brands such as Mimco and mesh there — for a 2011 update.
Witchery have been steadily finding their Escobar’s pick for the season? The
way into our closets since arriving on our brand’s Alba mesh tote, which features a
shores last year. metal mesh inlay and “soft and luxurious”
Now, fans of accessories designed vegetable-tanned leather.
Down Under have even more choices: Inizio chain link Said Escobar: “It’s the perfect piece
necklace, $265
Last month, Sydney-based luxury to take you from a day at the office to an
accessory retailer Oroton opened its first Alba mesh evening out with friends.”
Singapore store at Ion Orchard. tote, $1,045 Besides appealing to a “broad audience
Featuring plenty of polish and shine spanning different ages, demographics
— thanks to floor-to-ceiling mirrors and and locations”, Oroton’s easy chic has
gold metallic fixtures — the new 65sqm Maille hobo bag, $920 also garnered itself a celebrity following
store houses about 90 per cent of the full including Kim Kardashian and fashion
Oroton collection. This includes jewellery, consultant Yasmin Sewell.
knitwear, shoes, scarves, lingerie and, of A second Singapore store will open at
course, the brand’s signature leather goods. Marina Bay Sands next month, and it will
What sets Oroton apart from the house the full Oroton collection.
competition, according to its creative
director Ana Maria Escobar, is its uniquely Oroton is located at #03-10 Ion Orchard.
5 questions with
Jason Chan
HE FIRST made an impression with roles
in Channel 5’s Parental Guidance and
theatre productions such as SRT’s Much
Ado About Nothing. These days, Jason Chan
is more likely to be found behind the
camera as the founder of creative video
company BananaMana (www.bananamana.
com), which has its own YouTube channel.
Chan, who studied his craft at Sydney’s
prestigious National Institute Of Dramatic
Art (Cate Blanchett and Toni Collette are Where are your favourite
former students), tells Today about his love places to shop?
for “anything electronic” and shopping for I love shopping online. DD Electronics is
used furniture in Sydney. Lynette Koh great for camera gear, and Tago Tech is a
local site great for photography equipment
you spent eight years in Sydney — and studio gear. The Book Depository is a
found any great shopping spots there? great one for books: They deliver for free
I didn’t do a lot of shopping in Sydney from the United Kingdom to anywhere in
because I was a poor acting student then. the world — at great prices.
My most frequently visited shops were St
Vincent De Paul stores (charity shops) for What are your biggest shopping
their second-hand clothing and furniture. weaknesses?
My house in Sydney was mostly furnished Anything electronic. I have four computers
with second-hand furniture before I — all Macs — an Apple TV, iPhones, DSLR
“upgraded” to Ikea! (Laughs) cameras, video cameras. Those are my
toys; and I use them in my line of work, so
Do you still visit Sydney frequently? I can buy them without guilt!
I still return to Sydney from time to
time because it’s too beautiful to ignore. What’s your most recent purchase?
Geographically, it’s my favourite place in A Christmas present for my dad. I bought a
Australia. It has a beautiful mix of cliffs, Nespresso machine at Myer (an Australian
ocean, harbour, rivers, beaches, greenery department store chain) for A$350
and great weather — better than (S$449). During Christmas, everyone was
Melbourne’s weather, anyway. drinking four coffees from it each day.
7. weekend Today February 19 - 20, 2011 T 10 weekend Today February 19 - 20, 2011 T 11
Sydney’s got style down Under
Moss & Spy
style on the
MoSS & SPy
>> Continued from T9 inspired by sophisticated Parisian style,
A shirt with
baby-blue prints
Blog #3: We up and up this label by designer lia Tsimos features
ultra-feminine and retro-style silhouettes:
lightens up this euro- Think lace-trimmed, over-the-knee silk
fashionista get-up —
and the boater hat
makes it oh-so
The PeoPle The look of Sydney —
and how to get it Bec & Bridge
dresses.
Where to find: Cate (www.cate.com.sg)
Aussie. Founder: Jessie Bush, 22 Jessie Bush WheN the flawless Cate Blanchett Price range: From $200 Ksubi denim
— who, mind you, has ready access for a blouse.
how would you describe What makes the city’s style unique? to couture from giorgio armani to
Sydney style? sydney style is heavily influenced by alexander McQueen — named us young KSUbi
Polished, sexy and a bit beachy. Women two things — local designers and beach sydney-based label Romance Was Born as launched in 2000 by surfers george
here like to celebrate their beauty — any culture. australian designers have a vision a label to watch last year, we knew it was gorrow and Dan single, Ksubi has made a
occasion is reason to be well-dressed. that’s entirely their own:Vibrant, modern time to take sydney style seriously. name for itself with its slouchy yet skinny
and innovative. australians don’t shy away and if the racks at local multi- jeans, psychedelically colourful clothing
from colour, and they don’t mind being a brand boutiques are anything to go by, designs, statement eyewear, and now,
bit sexy. it’s all about having a bit of fun. singaporeans have been developing quite footwear.
Beachy waves, leopard-print a taste for aussie fashion labels, partly Where to find: The Denim store by
shorts, and black wedges
sum up laidback Sydney style. favourite Sydney labels? because their clothes are designed for a Queen’s Couture (#03-09/10/11
Josh goot for amazing silhouettes and climate similar to ours. Mandarin gallery)
prints, and Dion lee for impeccable tailor- One popular early adopter is holland Price range: From $129 for a tee.
ing and fabrics. i also can’t go past Bassike Village boutique antipodean, which was
for luxurious basics and Chronicles Of opened in 2004 with a focus on designers beC & bridge
Never for cool eyewear. from Oz. “local shoppers now prefer to Classics with a twist — and often, a
seek out more individualistic styles,” said very sexy one. launched in 2003,
antipodean owner Cynthia liang. “aussie Bec & Bridge specialises in body-
Photos: We The People
labels are very distinct, and they have a conscious designs with a creative
very different style from american or and modern edge.
european labels.” Where to find: antipodean
echoing these sentiments, sharon (27a lorong Mambong,
Blog #4: onThe siew, founder of online boutique Cate,
which stocks seven sydney-based clothing
holland Village)
Price range: From $100
STreeTS of Sydney labels, said, “Their fashion stands out
because they reflect their designers’ zest
for a top.
Founder: hayley hughes, 26 for life and love for the beach, and their JaySon brUnSdon
love for dressing up for social events like One of the few australian
Hayley Hughes
how did on the Streets of Sydney changing architecture. dining out and having drinks with friends. labels to have a standalone
come about? it’s the people who make the city. so, it covers the entire spectrum, really.” boutique here, Jayson
i moved from Melbourne to sydney last here's where to get a taste of a few Brunsdon offers luxuriously
august. i worked for a popular street-style how would you describe of our favourite sydney-based designers flowy separates that
website for many years in Melbourne. and Sydney street style? We like how right here in singapore. lyneTTe Koh comfortably transition from
this young woman
when i arrived in sydney, i noticed that Colourful and confident. People plays with propor- boardroom to bar, as well
the city lackedn a dedicated street-style like to experiment with trends, tions when it comes dion lee as simple and sophisticated
web presence, and i wanted to rectify but make them their own in to her clothes and Dion lee was the most frequently name- cocktail and evening dresses
her hair.
this. Documenting a city’s street style sydney’s unique carefree and checked designer among the sydney-based for formal dos.
is as important as documenting a city’s beachy way. fashion bloggers we interviewed. and Where to find:
Photos: on The Streets of Sydney it’s not just them: lee is also the current Jayson Brunsdon
darling of the mainstream australian (#02-47/47a Wisma atria)
fashion press, who cannot get enough of Price range: From $200
his architectural approach to fashion and for a top.
his innovative pleating techniques.
Where to find: inhabit
(#02-16 Mandarin gallery)
Price range: From $600 for a blouse.
Jayson Brunsdon
dion lee